If you sustain injuries in a taxi cab accident and a taxi driver or another party was at fault, you may be able to sue those responsible to recover compensation under Nevada law. However, you will need to prove fault and determine which party is liable to file a successful claim or lawsuit.
To determine if you can sue for a taxi cab accident, call 702-388-2005 for a free consultation with the Las Vegas taxi cab accident lawyers at George Bochanis Injury Law Offices.
Nevada’s Negligence Laws
Nevada requires taxi companies to have a minimum amount of insurance to cover injuries and other damages in the event of an accident. Subsequently, if a taxi driver caused an accident that led to injuries and property damage, the taxi company’s insurance would cover these damages in most cases.
If another driver or a different party is responsible for the accident, this party would be liable for resulting damages.
In any case, victims need to prove items under Nevada law to demonstrate negligence. These items include:
- That a taxi driver or another party owed the victim a duty of care
- That this party breached that duty of care
- That the victim suffered defined injuries and other damages as a result of that breach
Nevada goes by modified comparative negligence laws, meaning multiple parties could be liable for taxi cab accidents and others, ultimately requiring them to pay compensation.
Generally, the taxi company would be liable for covering damages in taxi cab accidents if their drivers cause an accident, or if other factors resulting from their negligence contributed to an accident. For example, a taxi company may be responsible for covering damages if they fail to maintain their fleets or hire qualified drivers.
Steps to Take After a Taxi Cab Accident
Car accidents in Nevada often occur, with 46,000 reported crashes taking place in the state in 2021 alone. Many of those likely involved taxi cabs, potentially with a liable taxi driver and resulting in a taxi cab accident settlement. To succeed with taxi accident insurance claims, it’s important to know what to do after an accident.
Following a taxi cab accident, there are steps to take that are similar to those in other types of car accidents. These steps entail:
Get Information From Everyone Involved
If you don’t require emergency medical care following your accident, you’ll need to remain at the scene and get relevant details from everyone involved in the accident. For example, you’ll need to record information that proves the other driver is liable for a taxi cab accident. You should also get information from witnesses who may have seen the accident and can give testimony later.
Call the Authorities
While Nevada law doesn’t require individuals to call the police after every accident occurs, it’s best to do so if anyone has sustained injuries or serious property damage.
The police will assess the scene and what happened, recording the statements of individuals involved. When giving a statement to law enforcement, be honest and try to recall as many relevant details as possible, which could help align the police report with your memory of events.
The police could also record statements from witnesses and their contact details, which could further support your case at a later date.
Receive Medical Care
Don’t wait to get professional medical treatment, as doing so could be detrimental to both your health and your case. The longer you wait to receive medical treatment, the harder it will be to prove that the accident caused your injuries. If you’re wondering how to get your medical bills paid after a car accident, being able to connect the accident to your injuries is a major component.
Even if your symptoms don’t appear to indicate a serious medical condition, some injuries may not appear until later. Having a professional check you for injuries can help you get an early diagnosis and begin treatment before your condition has the chance to worsen, which can keep your medical recovery process smoother.
Collect Evidence Proving Negligence
To prove negligence in taxi accidents, you must have enough evidence to build a strong case. There are many pieces of evidence to help you develop a claim or lawsuit, including:
- Police reports
- Medical reports
- Photos or video footage of the accident scene and injuries or damages
- Witness statements
- Proof of lost income
- Receipts for repairs to vehicles and other damaged belongings
While evidence is crucial to a taxi cab accident case, it isn’t always easy to get a hold of it. You will need ample evidence to effectively prove negligence and that a taxi driver or another party caused your injuries.
Consult an Attorney
Before filing a claim or lawsuit, you should consult an experienced taxi cab accident attorney to discuss your case. The right lawyer will be able to assess your case and determine the options available to you when it comes to compensation.
In most cases, it’s free to consult an attorney, as taxi cab accident lawyers tend to charge on a contingency fee basis. This model means that you would only have to pay a portion of your settlement if and when your attorney obtained a settlement.
If the attorney decides to represent you after a free initial consultation, your case could benefit from reliable representation.
When to Hire a Lawyer
You might ask, “When should I hire a lawyer for a taxi cab accident?” If you’re not sure whether it’s worth it in your case, the fact is that an attorney is an invaluable asset to have by your side, especially if you want to maximize your taxi cab accident settlement.
The right lawyer can help with numerous tasks to develop a strong case, such as:
Gathering Evidence
One way a lawyer can help you is by collecting sufficient evidence. Attorneys have the resourcefulness to connect with all relevant parties and collect as much relevant evidence as possible to build your case.
For instance, an attorney could obtain copies of police records from officers who arrived at the accident scene, witness statements from others present during the accident, and CCTV footage from cameras at intersections and other locations.
Your attorney would then be able to effectively organize this evidence to get the most from it and use it to support your claim or lawsuit.
Calculating Your Settlement
You’ll need to know how much money you can expect to recover from taxi drivers or other liable individuals or entities.
There are several types of damages that you may be able to recover, including economic, non-economic, and punitive damages. A lawyer can help quantify each of these and count them toward a settlement.
For instance, economic damages might include your medical expenses, lost wages, and other financial payments related to your accident and injuries. Meanwhile, non-economic damages could account for trauma, disfigurement, and other ways the accident impacted your overall quality of life.
In rare instances, lawyers might be able to recover punitive damages with the goal of punishing defendants for egregious behavior. For example, your attorney may prove that a driver acted with gross negligence to cause an accident, going beyond basic negligence through behavior like reckless or impaired driving.
Negotiating With Insurers
If large settlements are at stake, it’s often best to avoid negotiating with insurers on your own. Insurance companies want to avoid massive payouts, which is why their adjusters will work to either minimize or deny your claim.
Oftentimes, insurers will make a low offer that’s worth considerably less than the actual value of the case, hoping claimants will take the money before they decide to make a counteroffer. However, accepting this initial offer can compromise your case and prevent you from getting a larger settlement later.
Ultimately, an attorney can determine precisely how much your case is worth and continue negotiating to reach that amount.
Expediting the Claims and Legal Process
You may also wonder how long it takes to get a car accident settlement. The answer to this will depend on the nature of the case and its complexity, but your lawyer could help ensure the process is smooth and shorten the amount of time it takes to reach a settlement.
Lawyers work diligently to gather and organize evidence and negotiate settlements, applying the law to the best of their abilities. As such, there’s a good chance you can get compensation faster than you would if you worked on your case alone.
If you would like to sue for a taxi cab accident, contact us at George Bochanis Injury Law Offices to consult one of our Las Vegas taxi cab accident lawyers.
